Warning over online scammers targeting car buyers and sellers

Australians are being warned that scammers are stepping up their attacks on people who are selling goods via online classifieds.

So far in 2016, 544 people have fallen victim to classified scams and lost a combined $260,000.

In 2014, there were more than 3,200 reports of classified scams that cost Australians almost $2,000,000.

A spokesperson for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said people who used websites to buy and sell goods must be vigilant.

The ABC has seen several emails purportedly from genuine buyers and sellers who are using a car retail website.

The scammers initially send a text, asking if the car is still available, and ask the seller to contact them only by email.

Once the seller makes contact by email, the scammer sends an email similar to this one:

Thanks for getting back, I'm cool with the price likewise the condition, I work with New Zealand Oil and Gas (NZOG) and we are presently offshore in New Zealand Taranaki Basin.

We do not have access to phone at the moment and that's why I contacted you with internet messaging facility. I will be paying you through PayPal linked up with my Westpac bank account, please get back to me with your Paypal details, I have also contacted my courier who will come for pick up and deliver it to my place in Darwin after the whole fund has been cleared into your acct.

Manager of operations and security at the Carsales.com.au website, Dimitri Kulshitsky, said if the seller agreed and provided payment or banking details, the scammer would then send a fake transaction report.

The scam then works one of three ways.

A courier comes and picks up the car and it is effectively stolen

The buyer suddenly demands a refund on the fake transaction

They "accidentally" pay extra on the fake transaction and demand to be reimbursed

"We see those scams periodically," Mr Kulshitsky said.

"They will use all those usual stories like the oil rig, some kind of remote location or pretend to be a soldier.

It is very fascinating to watch what the bad guys will do to try to get through and look like Australian public

Dimitri Kulshitsky

"Usually they don't have access to the internet or the phone, they can use only email and text message. The idea is usually to take you out of normal channels of communication."

Mr Kulshitsky said another scam involved a car being advertised and the scammer wanting to make a quick sale.

They will promise to courier the car as soon as payment has been deposited into an account.

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